Combination washer-dryer with a suds trap



April 1967 v. c. MANDARINO, JR., ETAL 3,314,254

CQMBINATION WASHER-DRYER WITH A SUDS TRAP Filed Oct. 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v gqg- 28] 2% 24 2/ Hm COLD 22 pr 1967 v. c. MANDARINO, JR. ETAL 3,314,254

COMBINATION WASHER-DRYER WITH A SUBS TRAP Filed Oct. 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TUMBLE SI DRAIN THERMOST TIC DRY' TUMBLE FILL 001.0 RINSE TUMBLE DR- EXTRACT COOL DOWN Z HELLVEIH I HHIVEIH .lNOO .LViS

TI|=I 01a 01 0121 IH HI-IWLL NIVHCI EzIOlOW HELLSVW 8 HHSNEIGNOO V EISNIH G'IOZ) SLNEIWEIHQNI HBWLL NOLLONfid April 18, 1967 v. c. MANDARINO, JR, ETAL 3,314,254

COMBINATION WASHER-DRYER WITH A SUBS TRAP 3 Sheets-$heet 3 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 United States Fatent G 3,314,254 COMBINATION WASHER-DRYER WITH A SUDS TRAP Vincent C. Mandarino, Jan, St. Joseph, and John A. Laucir, In, Stevensville, Mich, assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,055 3 Claims. (Cl. 68--20) This invention relates to laundry apparatus and particularly to vacuum extraction combination washer-dryers wherein means are provided in the vacuum circuitry to preclude the entry of suds into the suction blower of such apparatus during washing and rinsing operations and wherein the same means acts as a condensing chamber during a drying operation.

In vacuum extraction type combination washer-dryers, it is essential to protect the suction blower of this type of device against the entry of suds. This is because suds could deleteriously affect the internal mechanism of such a blower, for example, by leaching oil from the bearings. Since the suction blower of this type of washer-dryer operates at speeds in the range of 18,500 r.p.m., faulty bearings or the like would very likely result in the destruction of the blower and possible damage to other components of the machine.

This invention provides fluid circuitry for a vacuum extraction washer-dryer having control devices therein for precluding entry of sud-s into the suction blower of the washer-dryer.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved laundry apparatus of the above type in which a suction conduit for conveying fluid from the container is provided with trap means including a well in the suction conduit in combination with selectively operable means for supplying water to the well for blocking flow of suds from the container through the conduit especially during the washing portion of the laundry cycle.

Another feature of the invention is to provide such an improved laundry apparatus wherein the means for supplying water to the well is selectively operable during the moisture extracting portion of a laundry cycle to condense moisture from air flowing through the conduit.

Another feature of the invention is to provide such an apparatus wherein the means for supplying water to the trap means well is operable at the beginning of the washing cycle to provide water in said well to block the flow of suds therethrough during the washing portion of the cycle and is selectively operable during the extracting and drying portions of the cycle to supply water for flow through the trap means to condense moisture from the moisture laden air flowing from the container through the suction conduit during these latter portions of the cycle.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide such an apparatus wherein the trap means well includes an inlet adjacent the fabric container and an exit side divided from the exit side by a downwardly depending bafiie with the exit being at a higher elevation than the inlet and with the means for supplying water to the well communicating with the trap means on the inlet side at substantially the highest elevation of this inlet side.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: 1

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of a washer-dryer laundry device embodying the invention and illustrating the respective flow paths of gas and liquid.

FIGURE 2 is a timer sequence chart showing the time relationship of the various operations of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view through a trap means detail taken substantially along line 33 of FIG URE 4.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view taken from the left-hand side of FIGURE 3.

The schematic view of FIGURE 1 shows a combination washer-dryer having the combined suds trap and moisture condensing means of the invention.

The laundry apparatus shown in this View comprises a rotatable drum 10 having a perforated metal periphery 11. The drum is rotated by an electric motor 12 having a shaft 13 projecting from each end thereof. The shaft at one end drives a belt system 14 which rotates the drum 10 and the shaft at the other end drives a turbine pump 15. The pump is provided with an inlet 16 and an outlet 17 leading to a drain.

The drum is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 18. The drum is contained within a housing or tank 19 for containing liquid during a washing operation. The apparatus is supplied with water through an inlet mixing valve 20 provided with a hot water line 21 and a cold water line 22. Leading from the valve 20 is a water line 23 that empties into a detergent dispenser 24. Leading from this dispenser 24 is a liquid line 25 emptying into the tank 19 at 26. There is also provided a rinse conditioner dispenser 27 and a bleach dispenser 28. These are connected to the tank 19 by lines 29 and 30, respectively.

At the bottom of the tank 19 at the lowest point therein is a sump 31 having an exit controlled by a solenoid operated valve 32 with the sump leading to a button trap 33 adapted to trap and remove small foreign objects from the liquid drained from tank 19. The trap 33 is connected to the pump inlet line 16 by means of a liquid line 34.

The apparatus includes a motor operated suction blower 35 having an inlet passage 36 communicating with a fluid separator 37 adjacent the bottom of the apparatus for separating liquid from air. This separator communicates by way of a suction'conduit 38 with a trap means 39, here shown as a suds trap and condenser box, where suds are blocked from flow through the conduit 38 during washing and rinsing operations and moisture vapor is condensed during drying operations. This suds trap 39 in turn communicates with a nozzle 4% that normally bears against the perforate periphery of the rotatable drum 10. The fluid separator also communicates with pump 15 through a check valve .6 and fluid lines 16a and 16.

The suction blower 35 has an outlet passage 41 that empties into the tank 19 so that the passage 41 comrnunicates with the perforate periphery of the drum 10. Located in this exit passage 41 is an electric heater 42.

The cold water inlet line 22 is provided with a branch 43 leading to the trap 39 with cold water flowing through the line 43 being controlled by a valve 44.

The cycle of operation of the washer-dryer shown in FIGURE 1 is illustrated by the timer sequence chart of FIGURE 2. The timer sequence chart illustrates the actuation of electrical switches by cams within a conventional sequential control or timer 45, diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 1 as controlling the machine motor 12. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the timer 45 also controls other electrical components of the laundering apparatus through cam actuation of switches at appropriate times during a, complete laundering cycle. Cams are designated by numerals l8 and if the cam is associated with two switches, the switches are distinguished by the letters A and B. Water enters at the start of the cycle through inlet valve 20 as indicated by the actuation of switch 6A and flows through line 23 through the detergent dispenser 24. It picks up the detergent in this dispenser and the mixture flows through line 25 into the tank 19 at 26 and from there into the perforated drum 10 and fully wets the clothes (not shown) therein. At the same time, water is supplied to the trap 39 to fill this trap with water to block suds from entry to suction conduit 38 during the washing portion of the cycle.

As indicated on the chart of FIGURE 2, the motor 12 is energized during fill to start rotation of the drum 1%. At the same time, the timer is started. During the first two increments of time, which in the illustrated embodiment of FIGURE 2 is one minute per increment, the clothes are tumbled in the detergent solution in order to wet them.

Following the two increments of tumble fill the machine enters four increments, or minutes, during which the fabrics me tumbled and the sump valve 32 is energized to open position as indicated by the drain function 3 on the chart of FIGURE 2 to drain liquid from the machine through the trap 33, the liquid line 34 and line 16 to the pump 15. The tumbling of the fabrics continues in the absence of a wash bath through the sixth timer increment. Migration of suds from the tank 19 by way of the suction conduit 38 is blocked by the water filled trap 39 operating as a suds trap.

Following the wash portion of the cycle of operation, the machine enters the rinse portion as indicated on the chart of FIGURE 2. This rinse portion in the illustrated embodiment is for nine minutes (increments) divided into two parts, during the first part of which, or for five minutes, cold rinse water is added. During this first portion the valve 2% is open as indicated by actuation of switch 1A to supply cold water which flushes remaining detergent from the dispenser 24 and dissipates suds from the tank 19. Drain valve 32 continues to be open as shown on the chart so that the rinse water passes through drum 10 and the clothes therein and is constantly drawn off during this period by the turbine pump 15.

During the second part of the rinse portion of the cycle or the remaining four increments as shown in FIGURE 2 the sump valve 32 is de-energized and closed as indicated under the drain function of the chart of FIGURE 2 and the blower 35 operates at low speed, as indicated by actuation of switch 53 in the chart. Rinse water at the lesired temperature is simultaneously added as indicated 1y actuation of switch 6A. As the drain valve is now :losed, the water will rise in the tank 19 until it reaches he level of the nozzle 4%) before being drawn from the :lrum by way of the nozzle 40 and suds trap 39 into the ieparator 37 where water, suds and lint are separated i'rom air. At the same time the suction empties the trap 59 of the initially supplied water which has been operiting as a suds block. Air is drawn from separator 37 ip passage 36 to the blower 35 and the liquid and lint are lrawn from separator 37 through line 16a. During this ime fresh water is fed into tank 19 and drum 1% Rinse :onditioner and bleach are fed into the tank as desired 'rom dispensers 27 and 23.

Immediately following the rinse portion of the cycle vhich is at the end of fifteen increments in the illusrated embodiment, one increment as indicated under the train function of the chart occurs when the sump valve 52 is again energized to open position with the excess vater then being drawn from the tank 19 during this )ump out portion of the cycle by the continuously opertting turbine pump 15. During this one minute of drainng, the drum 10 is, of course, continually rotated to umble the fabrics.

This one increment drain portion of the cycle is the irst increment of a ten minute or increment extraction )ortion of the cycle during which the blower 35 is oper- .ted at high speed, such as 18,500 rpm, as indicated by ictuation of switch A to create high air flow through the luid system of the machine.

The high air flow through the fluid system continues until such times as clothes within drum 10 fall to a point on the drum periphery covering the perforations communicating the drum with the section nozzle 40. This is effect seals or blocks the fluid flow path for air through the system. With the flow path blocked, a high vacuum is created in that portion of the fluid flow path between the nozzle 41 and the suction blower 35, due to the rapid evacuation of air therein by suction blower 35. The vacuum thus created causes liquid on and within the fabrics to be extracted therefrom through the perforate periphery 11 of drum to. This hi h speed vacuum extraction of moisture from the fabrics continues for nine increments with the heaters energized to aid in extraction of moisture from the fabrics being laundered.

Following extraction which in the embodiment of FIGURE 2 is after twenty-five increments of a complete cycle, the machine enters the drying portion of the cycle. During this portion, the timer is de-energized as indicated after the twenty-fifth increment in the chart of FIGURE 2 and the heaters remain energized. The blower which has already been operating for the last minute of the extracting cycle at low speed continues to operate for the remainder of the cycle. During this drying portion which is indicated on the chart as thermostatic dry, a thermostat (not shown) mounted in the nozzle is energized to control the termination of the dry cycle. In other words, this thermostatic control is during the twentysixth increment when the timer is not operating as shown under the timer function of the FIGURE 2 chart. To provide for re-energizing the timer, a switch contact indicated by 6B is closed by the timer during the twentyfifth increment. This contact is in series with the thermostat and provides a bypass circuit to the timer when the thermostat senses a predetermined temperature and closes the circuit.

As is customary in thermostatic drying control the end of the drying portion of the cycle is indicated when the thermostat senses a high temperature indicating that the fabric within the machine is dry. At this point the thermostat closes a switch and again energizes the timer to carry it through increment twenty-six. Increments twenty-seven and thirty-one constitute a timed cool down period during which the heaters are de-energized as indicated on the chart and the blower 35 continues to operate at low speed as shown under function 53 of the chart. Water continues to be supplied to the condenser as shown at IE to provide a lint wash down function.

The trap means 39 which is specifically identified as a suds trap and condenser box is in the form of a container 47 (FIGURES 3 and 4) having a well 48 in the bottom thereof. The container has an inlet side 49 and an outlet side 50 divided by a downwardly extending baffle 51 which terminates short of the bottom of the well 48. The highest elevation 52 of this outlet side 59 is above the highest elevation 53 of the inlet side so that the trap will retain a head of suds blocking water above the inlet. Water is introduced into suds trap 39 through line 43 at the highest elevation 53 of the inlet side 49 and leaves the suds trap by way of a downwardly sloped conduit 54. The inlet side 49 of trap means 39 communicates with suction nozzle 46 and the outlet side 50 communicates with fluid separator 37.

As previously described, the suds trap 39 is filled with water during the initial filling of the washer-dryer apparatus with washing liquid. With the suds trap full of water the otherwise open communication between the container 10 and the separator 37 through suction conduit 38 is blocked by the water. Thus the migration of suds through the conduit 38 is precluded during portions of the machine cycle when the suds trap is full of water.

As soon as the suction blower is energized, the water within the suds trap is drawn therefrom and into the fluid separator 37 where the water is separated from air, the air being recirculated through the system and the water being pumped to drain through check valve 46 and lines 16a and 16.

During the extraction and drying portions of the machine cycle when the heaters are energized, water is admitted to the suds trap condenser box through inlet line 43. The stream of inlet water is admitted to the condenser box at a right angle to the air stream passing through the condenser box. Since the velocity of the air stream is relatively high, the stream of inlet water is broken up and thrown against the baflle 51. In addition, as the condenser water flows off the bottom edge of baflle 51, it is again broken up by the air stream and swept upwardly thereby in small particles or droplets. The condenser box thus acts as a turbulence chamber for breaking up the condenser water into small particles in which state the water provides a large area of condensing surface to ensure eflicient condensation of water vapor being carried by the air stream passing through the condenser box 39.

It will be appreciated that the suds trap condenser of this invention may take other structural forms wherein the device is provided with a liquid retaining lower portion arranged to contain suflicient liquid to form a suds block during a Washing operation and an upper portion permitting ready evacuation of retained liquid upon the application of suction to the device.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In a combination clothes washer-dryer operable through washing and drying operations, a rotatable drum for receiving fabrics and including a perforate side wall section, a fluid retainer encompassing at least a portion of said drum for confining liquid during said washing operation, a suction nozzle adjacent said perforate side wall section for Withdrawing liquid and vapor from said fabrics during said drying operation, a suction unit for applying suction to said suction nozzle during said drying operation, a suction conduit interconnecting said suction nozzle and said suction unit, a suds trap device positioned in said suction conduit upstream of said suction unit and including a reverse bend for retaining liquid therein during the absence of suction from said suction unit, to thereby preclude suds flow from said fluid container through said nozzle and into said suction unit during said washing operation, said suction unit being effective during said drying operation to evacuate liquid from said reverse bend, and liquid inlet means for introducing liquid to said suds trap device.

2. The invention of claim 1 including heating means for evaporating liquid from said fabrics during said drying operation, and means for actuating said liquid inlet means during said drying operation to introduce liquid to said suds trap device.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said liquid inlet means is arranged to introduce liquid to said suds trap device perpendicular to the direction of air flow therethrough, to thereby promote flushing of lint from said suction conduit and the condensation of vapor in the air flowing through said suds trap device.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said liquid inlet means is positioned to introduce liquid to said suds trap device on the upstream side thereof.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said reverse bend is formed by a baifle.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said suds trap device has an inlet and an outlet on opposite sides of said baflle.

7. Laundry apparatus, comprising: a container for contacting fabric with a washing solution capable of forming suds during a washing portion of a laundry cycle and for contacting wet fabric with heated air during a moisture extracting portion of said cycle; a suction conduit for conveying fluids from said container; selectively operable suction means for drawing moisture laden air through said suction conduit from said container during said moisture extracting portion of said cycle; trap means in said suction conduit for retaining suificient water to block said suction conduit; and selectively operable means for supplying water to said trap means at the beginning of said washing portion for blocking flow of suds through said trap means during said washing portion of said laundry cycle, and for supplying water to said trap means during said moisture extracting portion of said cycle whereby moisture is condensed from air flowing in said conduit.

8. Laundry apparatus, comprising: a container for contacting fabric with a washing solution capable of forming suds during a washing portion of a laundry cycle, for subsequently contacting said fabric with water during a rinse portion of said cycle and for then contacting said fabric with heated air during a moisture extracting portion of said cycle; an exit conduit for fluids from said container; trap means including a well in said exit conduit; selectively operable suction means for drawing moisture laden air from said container by way of said exit conduit during said rinse and extracting portions; and selectively operable means for supplying water to said well at the beginning of said Washing portion of said cycle for blocking flow of suds through said exit conduit, and for supplying water to said Well during said moisture extracting portion of said cycle whereby moisture is condensed from air flowing in said exit conduit, said suction means being of sufficient strength to empty said trap of suds blocking water during said rinse portion of said cycle and to evacuate water from said well during said extracting portion of said cycle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,635,447 4/1953 Van Domick 6820 2,929,674 3/1960 Tann 68- 20 X 3,116,984 1/1964 Decatur 68-20 X WILLIAM 1. PRICE, Primary Examiner. 

7. LAUNDRY APPARATUS, COMPRISING: A CONTAINER FOR CONTACTING FABRIC WITH A WASHING SOLUTION CAPABLE OF FORMING SUDS DURING A WASHING PORTION OF A LAUNDRY CYCLE AND FOR CONTACTING WET FABRIC WITH HEATED AIR DURING A MOISTURE EXTRACTING PORTION OF SAID CYCLE; A SUCTION CONDUIT FOR CONVEYING FLUIDS FROM SAID CONTAINER; SELECTIVELY OPERABLE SUCTION MEANS FOR DRAWING MOSITURE LADEN AIR THROUGH SAID SUCTION CONDUIT FROM SAID CONTAINER DURING SAID MOISTURE EXTRACTING PORTION OF SAID CYCLE; TRAP MEANS IN SAID SUCTION CONDUIT FOR RETAINING SUFFICIENT WATER TO BLOCK SAID SUCTION CONDUIT; AND SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MEANS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO SAID TRAP MEANS AT THE BEGINNING OF SAID WASHING PORTION FOR BLOCKING FLOW OF SUDS THROUGH SAID TRAP MEANS DURING SAID WASHING PORTION OF SAID LAUNDRY CYCLE, AND FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO SAID TRAP MEANS DURING SAID MOISTURE EXTRACTING PORTION OF SAID CYCLE WHEREBY MOISTURE IS CONDENSED FROM AIR FLOWING IN SAID CONDUIT. 